Despite a DNF and a prognosis for her last IRONMAN, this Canadian is feeling anything but bitter.

by Luke Yates

Valerie Gonzales was called an IRONMAN for the 22nd time at IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant earlier this summer. Not only did she complete the race, she also earned herself a spot at the IRONMAN World Championship.

It was a bittersweet day, however, as the race in Kona will likely be her last triathlon. Gonzales was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009 and is due to begin treatment next year.

"When they go to take it out, it’s going to cause me brain damage. That’s probably going to be the end of my triathlon career," Gonzales says.

Back in July, it looked as though the 71-year-old may have already run her last race; a trip to Hawaii was looking impossible. She had hoped to earn her Kona spot at IRONMAN Santa Rosa, but due to illness on the day, didn't finish the race.

Gonzales, from Victoria, B.C., was introduced to the sport through her daughter. While watching and supporting her daughter at a race one day, she realized the sheer variety of shapes and sizes of the athletes taking part and thought, "I wonder if I can do it?"

"It means so much on so many levels to have a chance to be in Kona again."

The triathlon seed was planted. Gonzales learned to swim, bike, and run in her early 50s, and began racing short-course events. In 2003 she competed at IRONMAN Canada, her first full-distance race.

Over the next 14 years, Gonzales qualified for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona 12 times. She accepted her invitation on nine of those occasions, and finished second in her age group in 2015.

Leading into the 2016 season, Gonzales had high hopes. "I was ready to age-up and I had a good chance of potentially winning in Kona," she says. "I’d come in second the year before and I was the oldest in my age group. The woman that beat me is younger, so she wasn’t aging up yet."

She started the year in great form, winning her age group in each of the seven Vancouver Island Race Series running events, and hoped to earn her Kona spot at IRONMAN Brazil. Unfortunately, a freak bike accident resulted in a severe concussion just weeks before the race. Gonzales still travelled to Brazil with hopes of competing.

"That ended my triathlon season. I tried to see if I could do the race but I couldn’t even bike a block," she recalls.

Gonzales had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009. Since then, Gonzales has had to deal with the "time-bomb" in her head, as she describes it. Initially, surgery didn't seem to be an option, but over time, her doctor became more hopeful that something could be done.

"I’ve had 71 years and I’ve had some great times. I came to terms a long time ago actually that this was the way it’s going to be," she says.

IRONMAN Santa Rosa was a shot at redemption for Gonzales, and a chance to earn one final, capstone trip to Hawaii. She completed the swim, but didn’t get much further: "I got severe viral gastroenteritis and was pulled from the bike at mile 15. It was my first DNF on any race ever. I was really really sick."

An IRONMAN staff member reached out to Gonzales following the race to check on her. From that conversation, Gonzales learned that IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant still had spots available—and was within the cut-off for Kona qualification. After seeking advice from her doctor and coach, Gonzales decided to take the opportunity. She travelled to Quebec and had an exceptional day on the "tough, but beautiful" course. She finished in 14:50:55, winning her age group and earning a place at this year's IRONMAN World Championship.

"My performance was beyond my expectations. It means so much on so many levels to have a chance to be in Kona again," Gonzales says.

At the time of writing, Gonzales was knee-deep in preparations for her trip to Hawaii. If this does turn out to be her last IRONMAN, it seems like her tenth showing on the Big Island is a fitting place to have her crowning race unfold.